Adrain is the second East Side Democrat in the race to succeed to Angel Taveras, along with Brett Smiley. Also in the running are Providence City Council President Michael Solomon and Roger Williams University Law School professor Jorge Elorza. More candidates could emerge, possibly including longtime former city councilor John Lombardi and Buddy Cianci. Republican Daniel Harrop, also of the East Side, is also running for mayor.

Adrain formerly served as chairman of the state Board of Governors for Higher Education. He is a consultant and is married to the well-known novelist Ann Hood.

The entry into the race by Adrain is likely to further divide support on the vote-rich East Side. David Cicilline, and to a lesser extent, Taveras, used an East Side-South Side nexus to make their way into City Hall in, respectively, 2002 and 2010.